Introduction
Innovations in water technology are vital to finding solutions to the challenges we face today: climate change, ageing infrastructure, urbanisation, resource shortages, the economic and financial crisis, new emerging substances, the need for sustainable development, demographic
changes, etc. The water industry is already confronting serious problems. For example, the shortage of energy and other resources demands energy efficient processes and the recovery of nutrients, water and energy from the water cycle. Water shortages necessitate the reuse of domestic waste water for industry and agriculture. Salinisation of groundwater and surface water related to climate change requires new concepts and processes to desalinate saline and brackish water.
Climate change also seriously affects the urban water cycle. Flooding in urban areas is becoming more commonplace, while water quality management in urban areas is becoming increasingly complex. Emerging substances, such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, personal care products and nanoparticles, demand new technologies to remove these compounds from surface water, waste water and drinking water.
The point is to identify innovations in water technology that contribute to the entire water cycle and that result in improved system economy and performance, more sustainable systems and a clear focus on the customer. International Water Week shares this same focus: integrated solutions! The application of membrane technology, biotechnology, nanotechnology, sensor technology and ICT appears to be an appealing option for achieving breakthroughs in water technology and for offering solutions for the challenges ahead of us.
